Initial Environment Examination (IEE)

Project Number: 46392-002

August 2020

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: Additional Financing of the North-South Power Transmission Enhancement Project

This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

Additional Financing for North-South Power Transmission Enhancement Project (RRP AFG 46392-002)

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or are

2

21

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS

(as of August 2020)

Currency unit

–

Afghani (AF)

AF1.00

=

$0.013

$1.00

=

AF76.76

ABBREVIATIONS

ACEP

–

Afghanistan Clean Energy Program

ADB

–

Asian Development Bank

AEIC

–

Afghan Energy Information Center

AERA

–

Afghanistan Energy Regulatory Authority

AIS

–

Air Insulated Station

ANDS

–

Afghanistan National Development Strategy

AP

–

Affected Persons

AP1, AP2

–

Angle Point 1, Angle Point 2

AT

–

Angle Tower

AWEC

–

Afghanistan Wildlife Executive Committee

BOD

–

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

CBD

–

Convention on Biological Diversity

CC

–

Construction Contractor

CEO

–

Chief Executive Officer

CITES

–

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

COD

–

Chemical Oxygen Demand

COI

–

Corridor of Influence

DABS

–

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (National Power Utility)

DPADM

–

Division for Public Administration and Development Management

EA

–

Environmental Assessment

EHS

–

Environment, Health, and Safety

EHS-MS

–

Environment, Health and Safety Management System

EIA

–

Environmental Impact Assessment

EL

–

Environmental Law

EMF

–

Electric and Magnetic Fields

EMP

–

Environmental Management Plan

GRC

–

Grievance Redress Committee

GoA

–

Government of Afghanistan

GIRoA

–

Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

GRM

–

Grievance Redress Mechanism

IA

–

Implementing Agency

IBA

–

Important Birds Area

ICIMOD

–

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

ICLES

–

International Conference on Law, Environment and Society

IEC

–

International Electro-technical Commission

IEE

–

Initial Environmental Examination

IFC

–

International Finance Corporation

IUCN

–

International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUFRO

–

International Union of Forest Research Organizations

kV

–

Kilovolt

KWh

–

Kilowatt-hour

LARP

–

Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan

LARPF

–

Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy Framework

MACCA

–

Mines Action coordination Center for Afghanistan

MDG

–

Millennium Development Goal

MEW

–

Ministry of Energy and Water

MFF

–

Multi-Tranche Financing Facility

MIC

–

Ministry of Industry and Commerce

MOE

–

Ministry of Economy

MoPH

–

Ministry of Public Health

MoMP

–

Ministry of Mines and Petroleum

MRRD

–

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

MWh

–

Megawatt-hour

µT

–

Microtesla

NEPA

–

National Environmental Protection Agency

NEPS

–

Northern Electric Power System

NEQS

–

National Environment Quality Standards

NGO

–

Non-Governmental Organization

OHL

–

Overhead Line

PA

–

Protected Area

PAP

–

Project Affected Person

PCR

–

Physical Cultural Resources

PeK

–

Pol-e-Khumri

pH

–

Potential of Hydrogen

PIC

–

Project Implementation Consultant

PMO

–

Project Management Office

PMU

–

Project Management Unit

PUE

–

Transmission Line Standard for Soviet Union

ROW

–

Right of Way

SEA

–

Strategic Environmental Assessment

SF6

–

Sulfur hexafluoride

SMEC

–

Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation

SPS

–

Safeguard Policy Statement

SS

–

Substation

STD

–

Sexually transmitted diseases

TL

–

Transmission Line

TOR

–

Terms of Reference

UN

–

United Nations

UNCCD

–

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNEP

–

United Nations Environment Program

UNESCO

–

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

USD

–

United States Dollar

WB

–

World Bank

WHC

–

World Heritage Convention

WWF

–

Worldwide Fund for Nature

NOTES

(i) The fiscal year (FY) of the Government of Afghanistan ends on 21 December. FY before a calendar year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends, e.g., FY2017 ends on 21 December 2017.

(ii) In this report, "$" refers to US dollars.

Table of Contents

1.Executive Summary8

1.1.Introduction8

1.2Description of the Environment9

1.3Environmental Impacts and Mitigation9

1.4Analysis of Alternatives10

1.5Public Consultation and Information Disclosure10

1.6Environmental Management Plan11

2.Introduction14

2.1.Project Background14

2.2Scope of the Study15

2.3Summary15

2.4Methodology16

3.Institutional and Legislative Framework18

3.1.Institutional Framework and National Requirement18

5.3.1.Institutional Framework18

5.3.2.National Legal Framework19

3.2.International Agreements22

5.3.3.3.2.1 Agreements ratified by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan23

5.3.4.ADB Policies24

5.3.5.ADB Guidelines24

5.3.6.Environmental Screening and Categories25

4.Description of the Project26

4.1.Investigation Area26

4.2Technical Description26

4.2.1Line routing26

4.2.2Towers27

4.2.3Arghundy Substation28

4.2.4Right of Way and Clearance29

4.2.5Additional financed component (Line bay and Reactor)30

5.Description of Environment31

5.1Geography31

5.2Topography33

5.3Geology and Seismicity34

5.3.7.Charikar Kabul–Poli-Alam–Gardez34

5.4Geology and Soil34

5.4.1Geology34

5.4.2Soil35

5.4.3Mineral Resources37

5.5Seismicity41

5.6Landscape41

5.7Climate and Air42

5.7.1Climate42

5.7.2Air Quality and Noise43

5.8Water Resources44

5.8.1Water Resources in Afghanistan44

5.8.2Project Area Water Resources45

5.9.Flora and Fauna46

5.9.1.Flora47

5.10Protected Areas51

Figure 5-7: Location of the kola Hashemite waterfowl sanctuary/ Lake Hashmut in relation to the project area.53

5.11.Important Bird Habitat Salang Kotal (not protected)53

5.12.Population55

5.12.1.Population and Settlements in Project Area55

5.12.2.Land Ownership56

5.12.3.Education56

5.12.4.Occupations and Sources of Income58

5.13.Health Situation58

5.13.1.Diseases and Health Problems58

5.13.2.Health Infrastructure60

5.13.3.Access to Safe Drinking Water61

5.14.Ethnic Groups/Minorities62

5.15.Gender Aspects64

5.16.Agriculture and Lands Ties64

5.17.Land Use Pattern and Agriculture65

5.18.Electricity and Transport Infrastructure67

5.19.Physical Cultural Sites68

5.19.1.Unknown Cultural Resources69

6.Environmental Impacts and Mitigation70

6.1.Impacts during Design Phase70

6.1.1.Line Routing and Substation Sitting70

6.1.2.Access Roads72

6.2.Impacts during Construction Phase73

6.2.1.Soil and Erosion73

6.2.2.Landscape and Visual Aspects73

6.2.3.Air Quality and GHG Emissions74

6.2.4.Water Resources74

6.2.5.Flora and Fauna76

6.2.6.Protected Areas76

6.2.7.Waste Management76

6.2.8.Workers and Community Health & Safety78

6.2.9.Infrastructure and Traffic79

6.2.10.Physical Cultural Resources80

6.3.Impacts during Operation Phase81

6.3.1.Soil and Water Resources81

6.3.2.Landscape and Visual Impacts81

6.3.3.Climate82

6.3.4.Flora82

6.3.5.Fauna83

6.3.6.Waste Production84

6.3.7.Workers and Community Health & Safety84

6.3.8.Land Use87

6.3.9.Electricity Supply87

6.4.Impacts during Decommissioning Phase87

7.Analysis of Alternatives88

8.Public Consultation and Information Disclosure90

8.1. Identification of Stakeholders90

8.2. Stakeholder Consultation91

8.3.Results from the Preliminary Consultation Process92

8.3.1. Original transmission line routing92

8.3.2.Amendment93

8.4.Conclusions and Further Proceedings95

9.Grievance Mechanism96

10.Environmental Management Plan99

10.1. Mitigation Measures99

10.1.1Mitigation Measures for the Design Phase99

10.1.2Mitigation Measures for the Construction Phase105

10.1.3Mitigation Measures for Operation and Decommissioning Phases123

10.2.Monitoring Measures129

10.2.1.Design Phase129

10.2.2.Construction Phase129

10.2.3.Operation Phase129

10.3.Cost of EMP Implementation (Updated)143

11.Implementation Arrangements and Capacity Building144

11.1.Institutional Arrangements and Responsibilities144

11.1.1.DABS144

11.1.2.NEPA145

11.1.3.ADB145

11.1.4.Construction Contractor (CC)145

11.1.5.Project Implementation Consultant146

11.2.Capacity Building146

12.Overall Findings and Recommendations147

13.References150

14.Annexes151

14.1.Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA)151

14.2.Investigation Area Map155

14.3.Electric and Magnetic Fields156

14.3.1.General Considerations156

14.3.2.ICNIRP Guidelines and Statements (Excerpt)158

14.3.3Biological and Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields162

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Introduction

1. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) with Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) as the executing agency (EA), has requested the financial assistance of the Asia Development Bank to implement the North South Power Transmission Enhancement Project (the project). The planned transmission line Project Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul in Afghanistan comprises the construction of a double circuit 500 kV from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul overhead line (OHL) with a total length of 238 km and one substation with 400 MVA 500/220 kV transformers in Kabul SW (Arghundy) and Construction of Incoming Line Bay and two Reactors inside Dashte Alwan 500 kV SS for connection of 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Dashte Alwan Substation. This project is part of a pool of several projects, which have the objective of importing electricity from Central Asian countries to Afghanistan (AFG).

2. The Project component in Afghanistan has been classified by the ADB as a Category B Project, for which an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has to be carried out.

3. The Present IEE has been updated due to the additional financed components (construction of line bay and two reactors inside the Dashte Alwan Substation) and subsequent change in scope of the project. The present IEE study assesses the environmental (ecological and social) impacts of the Project for the detailed design stage based on the IEE prepared by Fitchner in 2012 in accordance with the relevant ADB guidelines. The basis of this study was intensive field surveys but also collection and verification of information from secondary sources particularly the census statistics of the project location, interpretation of recent satellite pictures and other available maps and data for the investigation area was made.The Investigation area covers the transmission line corridor of the planned OHL and its perimeter of influence in the provinces of Kabul, Parwan and Baghlan of Afghanistan including one 500/220 kV substation at Arghundy and Construction of Incoming Line Bay and two Reactors inside Dashte Alwan 500 kV SS for connection of 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Dashte Alwan.

4. The final approved detailed line routing design was determined regarding technical, economic, environmental and social aspects. The detailed design including final land survey is completed by the construction contractor and is approved by the Client/ Consultant and the ADB.

5. For the 500 kV line (first and second line sections), the Right of Way (ROW) is of 50 m (25 m on both sides of the centre line). Complete clearing of the ROW will be required in the centre strip of 25 m. Outside this strip but still inside the ROW, vegetation above 3 m height needs to be cleared, if applicable, including possible tall danger trees outside the ROW corridor.

6. The proposed towers are of galvanized steel lattice. At each tower location, four separate pits have to be excavated to a depth of 2.5 to 3.5 m.

7. Arghundy substation (SS) is located in east of the main road (highway) Kabul-Kandahar and the final tower is just about 30 m away from the road. For theArghundy sub-station, DABS has purchased additional land just adjacent to existing 220 kV (SMEC) Arghundysub-station. Therefore, the existing sub-station of Arghundy will be extended further. The area is uninhabited.

8. Therefore, the scope of this assessment is the planned double circuit 500kV overhead line with a total length of 238 km and the construction of one substation in Kabul SW (Arghundy) and construction of line-bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwansubstation). This assessment has been conducted at the detailed design stage based on the IEE prepared by Fitchner in 2012. And updated by Byuksun in 2017 and subsequently updated in 2020 May after the additional financial component (construction of line bay and two reactors inside the Dashte Alwan Substation.

1.2 Description of the Environment

9. The planned transmission line traverses three provinces of Northern Afghanistan - Kabul, Parwan and Baghlan. The characteristics of the Investigation area that have higher importance for the IEE are:

· According to the Scale of Richter, the earthquake hazard is of 6.0 local magnitudes (ML) in the Investigation area, meaning a medium risk.

· The Investigation area is presently not a touristic area.

· The groundwater between Kabul and Pul-e-Khumri is located relatively deep and the water table (as stated by local communities) can be found at 40 to 120 m depth in valley areas (minimum 10 m) and 70-95 m depth in desert areas.

· The line corridor crosses a semi-desert, mountainous and agricultural landscape for most of its length.

· In the lowlands, especially near Pul-e-Khumri and the other villages and the perennial/ seasonal rivers, all arable surfaces are cultivated lands. There are some plantations, trees, bushes and grassland. There is hardly any forest in the entire Investigation area.

· Not many wild animals live in the Investigation area due to the degraded habitat and sparse vegetation.

· It is not expected that any endangered plant or animal species live in the line corridor.

· The TL does not cross any Protected Area. However, it trespasses one legally unprotected IBA (Salang Kotal) with a diversity of at least 33 species of Himalayan breeding birds and passage birds.

· The villages passing by the line corridor are small and consist of 10 to 30 houses and the majority of the population lives as a joint/ extended family system. The land along the line corridor is mainly a communal property of the tribes and localized clans.

· People suffer from food and water-borne diseases. The biggest concern is the high child mortality. The presence of drug problems in the investigation area cannot be excluded. Only 60 % of the population living along the line corridor has access to health facilities.

· The women has limited role in decision-making process at household level.

· The major occupation in the Investigation area is agriculture. Section 1 from Arghundy to Salang is a dense agriculture area; Salang is a very mountainous and cold area where much less agricultural land is available or sometimes limited due to the very cold weather. The third section, from Salang North to Pul-e-Khumri, is also densely cultivated with some settlements.

1.3 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation

10 In summary, the results of the investigation demonstrate that the Project will have no high but mostly low impacts on the environment if the proposed EMP is implemented and all mitigation measures are accomplished.

11 The following aspects decisively contribute to this assessment:

· The landscape of the investigation area consists of semi-desert, mountainous and agricultural area. Therefore, there is possibility of temporary air pollution; however, the towers and access road construction do not pose high risk regarding soil erosion and sand deflation.

· The groundwater in the Investigation area is located relatively deep. The Project is situated in a (semi-) desert and agriculture land; therefore, the transmission line does not cross-woodlands. The occurring small sized trees do not necessarily need to be cut during the land survey and the stringing procedure.

· The transmission line is not located in or near a protected area but trespasses a legally unprotected IBA.

12 The following potential impacts are highlighted:

· Surface water pollution and riverbed destruction due to river crossings (to be avoided);

· Impacts on worker’s and community health and safety during construction and operation e.g. regarding work accidents, noise emissions, sanitary conditions, risk of electrocution, presence of land mines and natural disasters (management / clearance procedures to be established);

· Damages to crops and trees during land survey, construction of access roads, construction of towers and conductor stringing (to be minimized);

· Relocation of houses / households from the new ROW including impacts on women and other vulnerable people. This impact has been avoided and minimized during detailed design stage of this IEE and the remaining are planned to be fully compensated.

· Impacts on unknown historical and cultural sites due to the presence of a near branch of the Historical Silk Road (Chance find procedure to be implemented)

· Visual impacts on the landscape in scenic areas.

1.4 Analysis of Alternatives

No Project Alternative

13 This alternative would not cause any resettlement or environmental impacts but would also prevent electricity imports from Central Asia. If this line is not constructed, other lines will have to be connected to the substation and power plants of the present line in the near future.

Line Routing Alternatives

14 Beginning with first rough power line route options and based on recent high-resolution satellite scenes, the technical and the environmental line survey experts together optimized the line route step by step and section for section in order to avoid settlements and single houses and to reduce the impacts on the environment e.g. by following already existing power line corridors, existing roads or by circumventing sensitive locations. For some sections, several line route options have been discussed.

15 However only the optimized line route, and not the staged optimization process, which lead to this optimized line route, is shown in the reports in order to save time and paper.

Substation

16 An optimization process similar to the line routing has been conducted for the substation at Arghundy.

17 For Arghundy this optimization process comprised an alternative site about 1 km north of the selected site and the shifting of the site in the vicinity of the finally selected present location.

Additional financing components

18 For additional financed components which include construction of a line bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwan Substation No Project Alternative option has been implied. The additional financed component will be constructed and installed inside the existing Dashte Alwan Substaion. This part of the project would not cause any resettlement or additional environmental impacts of the project.

1.5 Public Consultation and Information Disclosure

19 The consultation process was carried out during June and July/August 2017 with the potentially displaced people / public for sharing of information related with the project planning and execution activities and consultation will be carried out for the additional work/scope (additional line bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwan substation) before contractor mobilize for work. This consultation will be part of appendix of the IEE study.

20 During the field survey for the completion of Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist and specific public consultations for the IBA, various meetings were held with regional and local stakeholders. The focus of the meetings was on the collection of information with regard to the socio-economic conditions in the wider area of the newly planned / change line corridor. At the same time, information with regard to the project was provided to those stakeholders who so far were not informed.

21 Nobody showed concern with regard to the possible damages and losses by the construction of the HVTL. The only two concerns of the public were that the future supply would not be fair and the danger that compensation payments would not come at all or that the compensation money would not be paid adequately for the losses.

22 The majority of the people would not have any problems in facing land acquisition and compensation procedures. However, majority people also pointed out that there are vulnerable households in their communities.

1.6 Environmental Management Plan

23 The careful routing or siting optimization process for the power lines and the substations could avoid significant project impacts. The remaining lower impacts are addressed in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which includes both an Environmental Mitigation Plan and a Monitoring Plan in tabular form for the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of the Project. Adequate mitigation measures and monitoring actions including action parties, costs, and dates for implication are given.

Mitigation

24 The main mitigation measures defined in the EMP are:

· Land Mine Clearance,

· Avoidance of settlements in the ROW to minimize resettlement activities

· Full compensation of remaining resettlement affected APs (see LARP)

· Minimization of access road construction;

· Avoidance of damages to river ecosystems at river crossings (avoidance of soil run off and water pollution)

· Compensation for crop damages;

· Avoidance of historical and cultural sites and implementation of a chance find procedure; and

· Implementation of EHS Management Plans.

Monitoring

· Due to the nature of the Project, the Project Implementation Consultant (PIC) will perform the detailed line routing and selection of the tower sites. A strict monitoring by an external expert of re-routing to further avoid resettlement and cultural sites is recommended for all line sections.

· Monitoring tasks during the construction phase will be related to material storage, location of work sites, noise emissions, waste disposal, traffic management, workers’ safety, protection of physical cultural resources etc.

· Operation phase environmental monitoring will include regular substation and transmission line inspections to verify compliance with the EMP requirements and with relevant laws and regulations.

· During operation it is recommended to measure the electric and magnetic fields under the lowest clearance and at houses located nearby the line (especially in case where limited houses are located within the ROW i.e. from AP 1 to AP 10/3, AP 45 to AP 46, AP 198 to AP 202 of the change route). The objective is to show that the internationally accepted permissible limits of 5kV/m and 100 mu T, respectively, are not exceeded.

Costs

25 The costs for the implementation of the EMP are presently estimated to be about 117,000 USD, with the detailed design of change route of overhead line (OHL) with a total length of 238 km and addition of additional financed components which include construction of a line bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwan Substation does not change this figure.

Implementation Arrangements

26 Internal environmental monitoring will be conducted by DABS-PMO, DABS Environmental Department. An EHS Consultant hired within the contract of the Project Implementation Consultant (PIC) during the construction phase will perform monitoring of EMP implementation. Monitoring results will be included in the Projects’ quarterly progress reports, semiannual environmental reports during the construction phase and annual reports after commissioning. The detailed monitoring program will be subject to review and approval by ADB.

27 In addition, an international expert to ensure that all requirements as stipulated in the EMP to the project are fulfilled should perform construction site audits. Such an EHS Construction Site Audit shall be performed frequently through monitoring visits by the team of PIC with special focus to the period of performing the detailed land survey.

28 Environmental monitoring during the operation phase will be performed by DABS. The PMO will no longer exists after construction. Monitoring results will be included in annual environmental reports during the construction phase and in annual reports after commissioning. The detailed monitoring program will be subject to review and approval by ADB.

29 At DABS there is Social / Environmental Department. The creation of Social / Environmental Department in DABS and training of qualified staff has made the process of project evaluations smoother.EHS staff for the Dashte Alwan Substation is responsible for the Environmental, Health and safety and upon award of the contract for the additional financed components contractor shall hire their own Environmental, Health and Safety staff which in coordination with DABS Social/ Environmental and Supervision Consultant’s Environmental staff will be taking the environmental work forward.

Overall Findings and Recommendation

30 Although the Project will have no high but mostly site-specific impacts, some medium impacts on the environment may remain. Careful line routing during the final detailed design helped minimize resettlement needs and environmental impacts.

31 The impact on physical cultural resources (historical and cultural sites) has been minimized. Especially, the construction of access roads and the final location of towers were decided very carefully to avoid any sensitive historical and cultural area, making future excavation activities possible. However, in case of chance finds of historical artifacts during the construction process, the construction activities have to be stopped immediately and the local representative of the Ministry of Culture has to be contacted.

32 The proposed transmission line will not cross-protected areas but will trespass a legally unprotected Important Bird Area (IBA) in Salang Kotal. Here, technical measures such as horizontal placement of the phases and bird diverters shall be considered. At river crossings special care must be exercised in order to avoid water pollution and riverbank erosion. An independent internationally experienced expert shall supervise the overall construction. The duty of such an EHS Audit shall be to ensure that the requirements stipulated in the Environmental Management Plan to this Project are fulfilled.

33 Within DABS an Environmental and Social Department currently does exist. It is recommended to fortify these departments in order to comply to the ADB requirements. The EMP was the part of the tender documents and construction contracts. A review of the final detailed design by independent social and environmental experts has been done.

Conclusion

34 Due to an elaborate line routing and substation siting process in close cooperation between the technical and the environmental survey experts, and based on recent high-resolution (50 cm) satellite scenes, the most significant impacts, especially resettlement, has been widely avoided at this final detailed designed stage. If the contractor who conducts the detailed design follows this approach, resettlement could be further diminished.

35 For remaining impacts, mitigation measures are proposed to minimize social and environmental impacts.

36 If all proposed mitigation measures are implemented, the Transmission Line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul, Arghundy Substation (SS) and Incoming Line Bay and two Reactors (additional finance component) inside Dashte Alwan 500 kV SS can be constructed with a minimum of adverse effects on the natural and human environment.

2. Introduction

2.1. Project Background

1. The planned transmission line project comprises construction of a double circuit 500 kV overhead line (OHL) with the final approved detailed design length of ca. 238 km from Pul-e-khumri to Arghundy in Afghanistan and expansion of a one line-bay at Dashte Alwan substation. Included in the parallel project under Energy Sector Development Investment Program North South are the constructions of one substation in Arghundy with 400 MVA 500/220 kV transformers. The Project Executing Agency (EA) and Employer is Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). This project is part of a pool of several projects, which have the objective of importing electricity from Central Asia to Afghanistan (AFG).

2. This was assessed to be a Category B Project according to the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), for which Fichtner GmbH has done an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).The Project Implementation Consultant, Byucksan Power Co. prepared this updated IEE for the detailed design stage based on the IEE prepared by Fitchner in 2012.

3. The main objective of this study is the identification of significant environmental concerns that may interfere with the final planned project implementation. The study was carried out in compliance with the ADB’s Safeguards Policy Statement (2009), as well as the environmental and social laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. International conventions, as ratified by the country, were also taken into account where applicable. A pre-feasibility study was conducted by FICHTNER in early 2012 and Byucksan Power Co and conducted environmental assessment for the detailed design stage in mid-2017. And it has been further updated after including the additional financed components (line bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwan substation) in the scope of the project.

2.2 Scope of the Study

4. Within the scope of this updated IEE, the PIC investigated the potential environmental impacts of the planned 500kV transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Arghundy and one substation in Arghundy and construction of Incoming Line Bay and two Reactors inside Dashte Alwan 500 kV SS for connection of 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Dashte Alwan substation.. On the basis of the existing environmental situation in the Investigation area (The investigation area covers the corridor of 100m from all sides of proposed substation,corridor of 25 m was investigated on both sides of the planned transmission line during the field survey, as additional finance components is located inside the Dashte Alwan SS, corridor of 100m applies for the same. For preparing this IEE study, FICHTNER set up a multi- disciplinary team of International Environmental and Ecological Expert; International Socio-Economic Expert; and National Environmental and Socio-Economic Experts. One basis for the study consisted of intensive field surveys conducted by the national environmental and socio-economic experts(Substations Included) in May2013 and separate baseline survey shall be conducted for additional financing components and will be a part of the IEE study as appendix after outbreak of COVID-19 ends which is resisting the same at the moment.

5. The investigation area is greenfield site catered to facilitate future expansion program under subsequent financing facilities by Afghanistan’s international development partners, including construction of back to back convertor stations for import of power from Central Asia.

6. The site is marked by quaternary sediments and quaternary sands and dunes. There are important oil and natural gas reserves as well as sulphur, sand and gravel deposits. It is an earthquake hazardous area with assumed 6.0 local magnitude (ML) on Richter scale, meaning posing medium risk. The site is composed of several soil types, however sandy soils predominate.

7. The landscape comprises general features of the Afghan semi-desert and grass steppe. The site is not a touristic area and is characterized by a continental dry climate. The last few years have brought very little rain. The winds generally blow from northern direction in winter and from the south-west in summer. The major source of air and noise pollution is the heavy traffic load on adjacent the ring road.

8. The groundwater in site is located relatively deep and the water table (as stated by local communities) can be found at below100 meters (m) depth. The vegetation is negligible and rain fed. Not many wild animals are found in site due to the degraded habitat and sparse. Vegetation. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fish and insects are the main animal groups in the province. There is no endangered plant or animal species in site area. Not does the site have any Protected Area. There is no population and settlements at the site area.

2.3 Summary

9. The results of the investigation demonstrate that the Project will have no high to medium impacts but mostly very low impacts on the environment if the proposed EMP is implemented and all proposed mitigation measures are accomplished.

2.4 Methodology

10 The field studies were undertaken by a team of International and National environmental and social experts, geo-technical specialists, and engineers. Primarily, the team consists of Ms. Saira Tajdar (International Environmental Specialist of Byucksan Power Co.), who provided leadership and guidance in planning the fieldwork, coordination with DABS Environmental staff Abdull Bashir Maroof, Senior Environmental Officer and analysis of results, report writing and finalization of the IEE Report. Mr. NoorulhudaOmerzai (National Environmental Expert) and Mr. Meraj (National Socio Economic Expert) in association with Byucksan Power Co., Ecological Expert and DABS site engineers conducted preliminary scoping, survey and assessment activities, coordinated the field sampling and analysis, and were also responsible to supervise collection of information. The team will be included expert of concern field to conduct field visit and compile IEE study. The environmental team also benefited from technical support and other information on the impacts of the proposed power works provided in engineering reports, socio-economic, resettlement, institutional aspects, designs prepared and reviewed by Byucksan Power Co. One basis for the study consisted of intensive field surveys conducted by the national environmental and socio-economic experts in June/July and August 2017. This survey had the objective of environmental assessment of the final detail design route proposed by the Contractor other than tender route (Fitchner). Due to security reasons and gloom of COVID 19 separate field survey after the additional financed components could not be conducted. For additional financed components which include new line bay and two reactors at Dashte Alwan substation Environmental Study team shall be investigating the area and experts shall be hired by concerned party.

11 Regarding the environment, a corridor of 25 m was investigated on both sides of the planned transmission line during the field survey. Baseline surveys were carried out for sample populations settled along the corridor of influence (COI, 1-1.5 km). Additionally, statistical census information has been collected from secondary sources and interpretation of satellite maps and other available maps and data for the Investigation area performed an evaluation of possible ecological and social impacts. For additional financing component a corridor of 100 m on each side of the substation will be surveyed for baseline data collection and IEE study will be updated accordingly.

12 Due to the fact that there is no official international consensus on an agreed approach for assessing the significance of impacts on the environment, FICHTNER used an own evaluation procedure in the preliminary IEE at feasibility stage. The focus of the used evaluation procedure was to decide whether the Project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects resulting from the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. The same evaluation scale developed by FITCHNER is adopted by the PIC to conduct updated IEE.

13 For the judgment, international standards like standards from the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO) etc. are used supported by Afghan standards (see Chapter 3.1).

=

medium

=

low

=

no impact

=

locally positive

=

regionally positive

The Evaluation scale applied is showing the extent of impact as above.

3. Institutional and Legislative Framework

3.1. Institutional Framework and National Requirement

Institutional Framework

1. Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS): DABS is an independent and autonomous company established under “The Corporations and Limited Liabilities Law of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IROA)”. DABS is a limited liability company with all its equity shares owned by the Government of Afghanistan (GoA). The company was incorporated on 4th May 2008 (15 Saur 1387) and replaces Da Afghanistan BreshnaMoassassa (DABM) as the national power utility. DABS operate and manage electric power generation, import, transmission, and distribution throughout Afghanistan on a commercial basis. DABS is the Implementing Agency (IA) of the Project.

2. Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW): In supporting the socio-economic growth of Afghanistan, the MEW is responsible for preparing and managing national policies of the energy sector with the exception of those management or implementation policies that are assigned to the yet-to-be established Afghanistan Energy Regulatory Authority (AERA) by theElectricity Law. The guiding and development direction of the planned energy sector of Afghanistan is subject to the policies under this law.

3. National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA): NEPA’s goal is “to protect the environmental integrity of Afghanistan and support sustainable development of its natural resources through the provision of effective environmental policies, regulatory frameworks and management services that are also in line with the Afghanistan Millennium Development Goals(MDGs)”.

4. Other Central Government institutions potentially linked to the Project and the implementation of the EMP include the following:

· Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development,

· Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock,

· Ministry of Energy and Water,

· Ministry of Information and Culture,

· Ministry of Mines and Industry,

· Ministry of Frontiers and Tribal Affairs,

· Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority,

· Central Statistics Office,

· Department of Meteorology

5. Province administration of Baghlan, Parwan and Kabul Provinces Under the provinces (wolayat) there are:

· Districts (uluswali) – with each province containing between five (05) and twenty (20) districts;

· Provincial municipalities (sharwaliwolayat) – with each province in principle containing one provincial municipality and two rural municipalities (sharwaliuluswali) and with each district containing at most one rural municipality, but some with none.

6. Although provinces and districts are legally recognized units of sub-national administration, they are not intended to be autonomous in their policy decisions other than through some flexibility in implementing centrally determined programs.[footnoteRef:1] [1: DPADM / UN (2006): Public Administration Country Profile) at http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan023299.pdf]

7. Civil Society Organizations: Save the Environment Afghanistan (SEA) is Afghanistan‘s only major grassroots and Afghan-managed conservation organization. SEA (then SAVE) was active in environmental issues during the civil war, when there was no active government involvement in environmental issues. SEA‘s mission is protection of the environment, sustainable resource utilization, conservation of biodiversity and integrated development of natural resources. SEA is member of IUCN, IUFRO (The Global Network for Forest Science Cooperation) and APAFRI (Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions) and works closely with the International Crane Foundation, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the International Snow Leopard Trust and other environmental organizations.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Afghanistan’s Fifth National Report to the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity (2014) submitted by National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) on March 31, 2014 available at https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/af/af-nr-05-en.pdf]

National Legal Framework

8. Table 3-1 provides a summary of relevant NEPA’s Environmental Regulations, Guidelines and Policies for the project, Table 3-2 provides Comparison of International and local Air Quality Standards and Table 3-3 provides Comparison of International and Local Noise Standards.

Table 3-1: NEPA’s National Regulations, Guidelines and Policies

Regulation/

Guideline/ Policy

Date

Key areas

Interim Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations

Draft 2.3

These regulations govern the process of environmental impact assessment in Afghanistan on an interim basis pending the establishment of the EIA Board of Expert in terms of Article 20 of the Environmental Law and issuing of final regulations.

These regulations provide the detailed process of EIA and list the projects into category A and B based on potential impacts.

Administrative Guidelines for the

Preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments

June 2008

2007

The Director-General of NEPA issues this document in terms of Executive Order No. 1/87 dated 3 June 2008. These guidelines are in draft form and have been prepared by NEPA in coordination with UNEP. The purpose of guidelines is to provide guidance to proponents while undertaking a development project that may have a potential impact on the environment. The guidelines also provide guidance on how public should be consulted and define the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders’ in the process.

Environmental Impact Assessment Policy – “An Integrated Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment in Afghanistan”

November

2007

NEPA with the assistance from UNEP has developed the EIA Policy of Afghanistan. The policy stipulates energy sector guidelines to the project proponents to integrate EIA in the process ofdevelopment and the procedures to addressenvironmental consequences and involve necessary institutions in the process of project implementation.

Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations

March, 2008

These Regulations are issued in accordance with Article 22 of the Environmental Law in order to govern the process for environmental impact assessment.

National Strategy of Environment

December, 2007

Afghanistan confirms the new era of environmental regulation. So, the strategy is that most of the development capacity of NEPA and its capabilities due to law enforcement activities & coordination should be increased. The policy focuses on existing scenarios to integrate the environment through environmental regulations including the National Development Strategy and Afghanistan Development Goals.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements:

United Nations Environment Program

Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch

A Handbook for Afghan Officials

March, 2008

This handbook has been produced in both Dari and English and is an output of UNEP’s Program for Institutional and Capacity Building for Environmental Management in Afghanistan, which was initially implemented in 2003 and is funded by the European Commission, the Government of

Finland and the Global Environment Facility.

Table 3-2: Comparison of International and local Air Quality Standards*

USEPA

WHO/IFC

Afg. NEQS

Pollutants

Avg. Time

Standard

Avg. Time

Standard

Avg. Time

Standard

SO2

3 hrs

0.5 ppm

24 hr

20 ug/m3

NA

NA

1 hr

75 ppb

10 min

500 ug/m3

8 hrs

9 ppm

(11

CO

mg/m3)

35 ppm

(43

NA

NA

1 hr

mg/m3)

Annual

100 ug/m3 (53

1 yr

40 ug/m3

NO2

Mean

ppb)

NA

1 hr

100 ppb

1 hr

200 ug/m3

NA

O3

8 hrs

0.07ppm (148

8 hrs

100 ug/m3

NA

ug/m3)

NA

PM10

24 hrs

150 ug/m3

1 yr

20 ug/m3

Annual Mean

401 ug/m3**

24 hr

50 ug/m3

24 hrs

247 ug/m3**

PM2.5

Annual Mean

24 hrs

15 ug/m3

35 ug/m3

1 yr

24 hr

10 ug/m3

25 ug/m3

NA

NA

* Afghanistan has not established its own ambient AQ standards and the Government is still in the process of adoption of standards (Urban Air Quality Management Report, ADB, 2006). Therefore the standards highlighted in green for each respective pollutant are the most stringent based on a comparison between two international regulations i.e. USEPA and WHO/IFC and thus shall be applicable for the proposed project.

** High PM10 concentrations have been measured in initial samples under the ADB Kabul Air Quality Management (KAQM) Project in 2004 and in previous short-term studies conducted during 2003 by an Environmental and Industrial Health Hazard (EIHH) Special Support Team (SST).

Table 3-3: Comparison of International and Local Noise Standards

Limit in dB(A) Leq

Category of Area/Zone

AFG- NEQS

WHO/IFC

Day Time

Night Time

Day Time

Night Time

Residential area (A)

NA

NA

55

45

Commercial area (B)

NA

NA

70

70

Industrial area (C)

NA

NA

70

70

Silence zone (D)

NA

NA

55

45

*The standards highlighted in green for each respective Area/Zone are the most stringent based on absence of local regulations and standards for Noise; therefore, international regulations shall be applicable for the proposed project.

9. Framework for EIA (Environmental Act): The Government’s regulation on environmental impact assessment is based on the Environmental Act of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Gazette No. 912) dated 23 Jadi, 1384 (25 January, 2007). The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), as an independent institutional entity, is responsible for coordinating and monitoring conservation and rehabilitation of the environment, and for implementing this act. Article 16 and 17 of Chapter 3 of the Environmental Act describes the process of preparing a preliminary assessment, an environmental impact statement and a comprehensive mitigation plan to be conducted by the proponent of each project. Article 21 mentions public consultation is required for all the projects. Article 18 describes the approval procedure of environmental impact assessment. The NEPA will appoint an EIA Board of Experts to review, assess and consider applications and documents submitted by the proponent. Acting on the advice of the EIA Board of Experts, NEPA shall either grant or refuse to a grant permit in respect of the project. A permit granted would lapse in the event that the proponent fails to implement the project within three years of the date of which the permit was granted. Article 19 describes the appeal procedure. Any person may, within thirty (30) days of the granting or refusal of a permit, appeal the decision to the Director-General of the NEPA. The Director-General shall review the appeal application and thereafter make an appropriate decision. Should the appellant wish to appeal the Director-General’s final decision, the matter shall be referred to the relevant court.

10. Land Code: The legal framework governing land rights is a collection of laws including formal (constitutional and civil law), religious and customary law. However, the government is making progress toward creating a cohesive framework. The 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan provides that property shall be safe from violation, no one shall be forbidden from owning and acquiring property except by law, and private property can only be confiscated by legal order.

11. In 2007, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a new Land Policy that allows for the formalization of land rights in informal settlements, and addresses bottlenecks in land rights administration as well as the overlap in different institutions’ authority over questions of land rights (Alden Wiley, 2003; GIRoA, 2004; Gebremedhin, 2007; EMG, 2010).

12. The 2008 Law on Managing Land Affairs sets out definitions for various land types and classifications, requirements for land deeds, and principles governing allocations of state land, land leasing, land expropriation, settlement of land rights, and restoration of lands. The law recognizes Shari’a, and defers to applicable principles of Shari’a in some areas (GIRoA 2008b). Issues that are not covered by the Law on Managing Land Affairsare governed by the country’s Civil Code, which in large measure reflects the Hanafi School of Islamic Law (Shari’a). Islamic law governs when the Civil Code is silent on an issue (Alden Wiley 2003; Gebremedhin 2006).

13. Customary law dominates in Afghanistan, and the Civil Code recognizes the application of customary law with regard to land rights. The Ministry of Justice estimates that, due to lack of trust and confidence in formal judicial institutions, 90 % of Afghans rely solely on customary law.

National Environment Strategic Documents

14. Afghanistan’s national environmental strategies are contained within the fabric of four interlocking national-level planning documents:

1. The Millennium Development Goals: Vision 2020,

2. The Afghanistan Compact,

3. The Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS 2008-2013), and

4. The National Environment Strategy

3.2. International Agreements

15. Afghanistan has ratified a number of international agreements and conventions relating to the protection of the environment and biodiversity. Some of those agreements are as follows:

3.2.1Agreements ratified by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

16. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty, which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Afghanistan is currently not a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention.

17. The World Heritage Convention (WHC) is an international agreement that was adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1972. It is based on the premise that certain places on earth are of outstanding universal value and should therefore form part of the common heritage of mankind. The Convention seeks to identify and safeguard the world's most outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Afghanistan became a Party to the Convention in March 1979.

18. The objective of the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, Paris, 1994) is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/ or desertification. Afghanistan signed the UNCCD in 1995 and the Convention entered into force in December 1996.

19. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. Afghanistan signed the UNFCCC in June 1992. The Transitional Authority ratified the Convention in September 2002 and the Convention entered into force in December 2002. The Kyoto Protocol is an extension to the Convention adopted in 1997 that outlines legally binding commitments to emission cuts. Afghanistan has yet to accede to the Kyoto Protocol.

20. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international agreement between governments, which came into force in 1975. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Afghanistan acceded to CITES on 30 October 1986 but has not been actively implementing the Convention.

21. Afghanistan signed the Convention on Biological diversity (CBD) in 1992 and ratified it in 2002. Afghanistan submitted the Fourth National Report to the CBD Secretariat in 2009.

22. Afghanistan is not a Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a supplementary agreement to the CBD. Afghanistan does not currently consider biosafety to be a significant issue relative to others challenges facing the country (Fourth National Report to the CBD Secretariat, 2009).The Government of Afghanistan is expanding its practical field focus on environmental and biodiversity conservation through the National Priority Program(NPP) on Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources Management. In recognition of the need to address both poverty and resource overuse, a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are carrying out poverty and environment initiatives in nearly every province in the country (Fifth National Report to the CBD Secretariat, 2014).

23. In addition to complying with country safeguards requirements, the present Project will comply with ADB’s SPS (2009) which sets out the policies and principles for protecting the environment and people by wherever possible avoiding impacts and mitigating and/or compensating for impacts that cannot be avoided.

ADB Policies

24. Safeguard Policy Statement (2009). SPS 2009 is ADB’s safeguards policy document. It describes the common objectives and policy principles of ADB's safeguards and outlines the delivery process for ADB's safeguard policy. SPS 2009 promotes sustainability through protection of people and the environment from the adverse impacts of projects, and by supporting the strengthening of country safeguard systems. It presents a consistent, consolidated framework for environment, resettlement, and indigenous people’s safeguards.

25. ADB Operations Manual, Safeguard Policy Statement, Section F1/BP (Bank policies) and Safeguard Review Procedures, Section F1/OP (operational procedures) (2013). These documents operationalize SPS 2009. The policy sets forth the scope of SPS 2009 applicability to ADB operations, and the procedures describes the safeguards process and outputs, including consultation and disclosure requirements, through the various stages of project preparation.

26. Public Communications Policy (2011): guides ADB’s efforts to be transparent and accountable to the people it serves, which it recognizes are essential to development effectiveness. The policy recognizes the right of people to seek, access, and impart information about ADB’s operations, and it aims to enhance stakeholders’ trust in and ability to engage with ADB, through proactive disclosure, presumption in favour of disclosure, and recognition of the right to access and impart information and ideas, country ownership, limited exceptions, and the right to appeal.

ADB Guidelines

27. Environmentally Responsible Procurement (2007) provides guidance to ADB staff, consultants, and executing agencies on environmentally responsible procurement, defined as “a systematic approach to the purchase of goods and services that are thought to be less damaging to the environment than other goods and services that serve the same purpose,” specifically, products that “reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, limit toxic by-products, contain recycled content or are reusable, and are produced with the least environmental impact, and services that help improve the environment, are rendered with minimum environmental and social impacts, and use resources and energy efficiently.”

Complaint Handling in Development Projects - Grievance Mechanisms:

28. A Critical Component of Project Management (2010). This document presents definitions, concepts, rationale, and history relevant to the ADB project grievance redress mechanism.

Complaint Handling in Development Projects - Building Capacity for Grievance Redress Mechanisms (2010).

29. This document presents a framework and practical suggestions for building the capacity of an organization to manage an effective grievance redress mechanism.

Environment Safeguards, A Good Practice Sourcebook (2012).

30. This draft working document aims to add clarity, provide technical guidance, and recommend good practices in SPS (2009) implementation. It updates the Environmental Assessment Guidelines (ADB 2003).

Selected References for Good Practice in Environmental Safeguards Implementation (2014).

31. This internal Central and West Asia Department document presents internet hyperlinks to exemplary environmental safeguards documents (IEEs, EIAs, EARFs, etc.) prepared for projects in these countries.

Environmental Screening and Categories

32. ADB water resources projects and subprojects are screened using a rapid environmental assessment checklist filled out for the components. This checklist captures the type; location, sensitivity, scale, nature, and magnitude of potential environmental impacts, and availability of cost-effective mitigation measures. Based on the checklist findings, the project or component is assigned to one of the following ADB environmental categories.

33. Category A – likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are irreversible, diverse, or unprecedented. These impacts may affect an area larger than the sites or facilities subject to physical works. An EIA, including an environmental management plan (EMP), is required. The raising of the Dahla Dam has been categorized as Category A, impacts are adverse and cannot be mitigated on site. An EIA report has been prepared accordingly. All hydropower developments are categorized as “Category A” according to ADB environmental assessment guidelines (2003).

34. Category B – Potential adverse environmental impacts are site-specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily than for Category A projects. An initial environmental examination (IEE), including an EMP, is required.

35. Category C – A proposed project is likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. An EIA or IEE is not required, although environmental implications need to be reviewed.

4. Description of the Project

4.1. Investigation Area

1. The Investigation area covers the transmission line corridor of the planned OHL and a substation in Arghundy with the TL perimeter of influence in the three provinces of Kabul, Parwan and Baghlanin Afghanistan including the two towns Pul-e-Khumri and Kabul as well as several small settlements between them and for Right of Way (ROW/ Potential Impact area for OHL and Substation please refer section 4.2.4 below.

2. The investigation area covers the corridor of 100m from all sides of proposed substation site and a corridor of 25 m was investigated on both sides of the planned transmission line during the field survey,as additional finance components is located inside the Dashte Alwan SS, corridor of 100m applies for the same. The entire TL route including the Arghundysubstation has been examined by Byucksan Power Co. in the survey for preparation of updated IEE. Additional financed component (construction of line bay and of two reactors at Dashte Alwan Substation) will be examined in the survey for preparation of updated IEE

3. The Investigation area map is provided in Annex.

4.2 Technical Description

4 The planned project comprises the construction of a double circuit 500 kV overhead line (OHL) with a length of 238 km from DashteAlwan to Arghundy, Construction of one 500 kV substation at Arghundyand construction of line bay including two reactors at the Dashte Alwan Substation. This project is the part of a pool of severalprojects, which have the objective of importing electricity from Central Asia to Afghanistan (AFG).

4.2.1 Line routing

4. The line routing, with a total planned length of ca. 238 km, was determined regarding technical and economic aspects as well as environmental and social aspects. Considered environmental and social aspects were (FICHTNER, 2013):

· Avoiding traversing or close by-passing of urban areas, densely populated areas, settlements, schools, public buildings and market places;

· Avoiding traversing or close bypassing of shrine, historical places, national parks and protected areas;

· Avoiding traversing of forest and water catchment zones;

· Keep electrical field, magnetic field, audible noise and TV interference as far as possible below national/ international accepted levels;

· Keep impact on flora, fauna, nesting places, animal trails, migration zones and sensitive ecological areas to a minimum:

· Apply selected bush clearing minimize access tracks.

5. The overhead line will take the shortest route via the Salang Pass. It will, for the most part, share the corridor with the existing 220 kV line going from the existing PeK substation to the vicinity of Doshi, and the south part (angle points S1 to S108) from Doshi via Salang Pass to the Arghundy substation. The angle points A63 and S1 are identical. Most of the south part of the line passes altitudes higher than 1,500 m, with a 14 km section at Salang Pass being over 3,000 m.

6. In the line section between the newArghundy substation and the existing Pul-e-Khumri substation (angle points A1 to A23), the line generally follows the existing 220 kV corridors to Naibabad.

7. The proposed line termination at Kabul South West (Arghundy Substation) may need to be adjusted in order to articulate with another OHL leading from the Arghundy substation to Charikar.

8. Due to spatial constraints and terrain morphology the construction of the OHL will be difficult. The relatively narrow Salang Pass corridor and the approaching valleys already accommodate one existing 220 kV double circuit line.

9. Overcoming spatial constraints is one of the major challenges of the new tower design. The distance to the existing 220 kV OHL attempted by our line design is ca 50 meters. However, based on site-specific technical survey assessments a smaller distance is also considered at some places. Initial geometry assessments indicate that, where required, towers could be placed at minimum of ca 35 meters centre line to centre line.

10. The towers will be designed to support two circuits in order to meet potential future demand for more transmission capacity. However, initially only one circuit will be installed.

11. The line will pass through difficult mountainous terrain and high altitudes. New towers shall be of “barrel” type, double circuit, designed by the probabilistic design code (EN 50341 – 1: 2012).

12. The construction contractor completed the detailed design including final land survey . . In general, the average distance between the towers was planned around 450 m (mean span of 400-450 m). However, the constructing contractor has fixed the final location of the towers after conducting the final land survey.

4.2.2 Towers

13. A proposed tower design for the 500 kV line is shown in Figure 4-2.

Figure 4-2: Proposed Tower Design 500 kV with 60m Right of Way (ROW)

14. The proposed towers are of galvanized steel lattice construction. Usually, individual foundations are used for each leg, which means that at each tower location four separate pits have to be excavated to a depth of 2.5 m to 3.5m. Regardless of whether prefabricated parts or cast-in-situ concrete is used, these foundations consist of a floor slab with an underground shaft. Following installation, the foundations are grouted (and compacted), so that only the heads of the foundation shafts are visible.

4.2.3 Arghundy Substation

15. Arghundy SS is located east of the main road (highway) Kabul Kandahar and the final tower is just about 30 m away from the road. The new 500 kV substation at Arghundy (Kabul suburbs) will be sited adjacent to existing 220/20 kV substation site. The site is located at a west-exposed hillside, which is uninhabited and almost completely without vegetation. The hillside area is non-productive land. No rare or endangered species are expected at the site, due to the proximity to the main road and the existing settlement structures. The only problem of this site is the inclination, which demands substantial earth movement activities in order to create plain areas for the SS infrastructure. The land site is clear of any structures, irrigated farming or other economic activities and is barren with ground water table below 100 meters.

16. The new 500 kV Arghande substation shall include the construction and commissioning on turn-key basis of a 500 kV Substation with one 500/220/20 kV, 3 * 133 MVA 1 ph auto-transformer banks at Arghande (named also Kabul South West) placed near to Kabul city.

17. This substation shall be built nearby anexisting 220/20 kV Substation, at the moment in tendering stage. The 220 kV autotransformers side shall be connected directly to the new 220 kV bay.

18. From an environmental point of view the combination of the SNEC area with the planned SS Arghundy is the optimal solution as thus the land requirements are reduced to a minimum and the land is 100 Government owned.

Figure 4-3: Arghundy Substation

19. Individuals as lease and contract have operated the land for the past 35 years. People from the neighboring villages like Wakil Najmuddin village, Khoja Alwan village and Qarasai village, as well as other people from Pul-e-Khumri, can get the contract depending on the local government and social government system decision. Mostly relatives of Maliks (heads of specific tribes of the area) can get the contract. There has not been a single

20. This substation shall include the construction and commissioning on turnkey basis of a 500 / 220 kV Substation with one 500/220/20 kV, 3 x 133 MVA 1-ph autotransformer bank. It shall be built 25 km far from the existing Pul-e-Khumri 220/20 kV Substation and connected to the existing 220 kV Double Bus Bar system by means of the existing D/C line. This substation shall have a crucial role inside the Turkmenistan to Afghanistan interconnector; in fact it will be future Hub for the Converter Stations.

4.2.4 Right of Way and Clearance

21. The 500 kV line has an associated Right of Way (ROW) of 50 m (25 m on both sides of the centre line) on the basis of the span-width, the line swinging and the electrical safety distance. The minimum safety distance to conductors to respect international standards for electric and magnetic fields (EMF) is assumed to be 15 m in view of the public.

22. Complete clearing of the ROW would be required in the centre strip of 25 m allowing for stringing of conductors. Outside this strip, but still inside the ROW, vegetation above 3 m height needs to be cleared, if applicable, including possible tall trees outside the ROW corridor. Concerning ground clearance, given the lack of harmonized standards for usage at an international level, Table 4-1 shows the ones adopted in the Soviet Union (PUE).

Table 4-1: Clearance as per PUE for 500 kV transmission lines

Clearance

500 kV Line

Above normal ground

8.0 m

To roads

9.0 m

To other OHLs

5.0 m

4.2.5 Additional financed component (Line bay and Reactor)

23. The Project consists of line bay and two Reactors inside Dashte Alwan 500 kV SS for connection of 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Dashte Alwan. The site is a new green field location outside the municipal limits of the city of Pul-e-Khumri to minimize any land acquisition and resettlement impacts. The site dimensions are 1.2 km X 0.4 km, located along the national highway and the 220 kV transmission line between Pul-e-Khumri with Mazar Sharif.

24. A bay is a power line within an electrical substation which connects a circuit (such as a power line or transformer) to a busbar. Each bay typically includes circuit breakers, disconnectors, instrument transformers and surge arresters and reactors are installed at substations to help stabilize the power system.

25. The civil work for the additional financed components shall include site preparation inside the substation, materials delivery and installation of structures such as 500kV Circuit Breaker with supporting structure ,500 kV disconnector with earth switch at one side with supporting structure ,500 kV Current Transformer, single phase 5 cores with supporting structure,500 kV Capacitor Voltage Transformer, single phase with supporting structure,500 kV Surge Arrester, single phase, with supporting structure, other equipment for 500 kV switchyard, 500 kV disconnector with earth switch at both side with supporting structure. A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit, a disconnector, disconnect switch or isolator switch is used to ensure that an electrical circuit is completely de-energized for service or maintenance, A Current Transformer (CT) is used to measure the current of another circuit and a surge arrester is a device to protect electrical equipment from over-voltage transients caused by external (lightning) or internal (switching) events.

1. Description of Environment

1. The provinces crossed by the transmission line and sitting of substation project are Baghlan, Parwan and Kabul. This chapter presents a brief description of the physical, biological and social characteristics of the project area. The OHL is divided in three sections for the purpose of the field survey that was undertaken by national environmental and socio-economic experts in June 2017,As Components covered under additional financing (line bay and two reactors) is located in the Dashte Alwan Substation, it has been included under the third line Section: From Salang North to Dashte Alwan and every section contains description of the environment relating to additional financing (line bay and reactors) at Dashte Alwan SS. A brief description of the 3 sections is given as follows:

2. First Line Section: from Arghundy to Salang South: The first line section (Arghundy to Salang south) starting from the substation is passing over the main road (highway) Kabul-Kandahar, goes through some agriculture fields and some small settlements along the corridor up to the line, and climbs up on the hills around Shekerdara, Gul Dara, Qarabagh and Istalaf districts of Kabul province and as well as in Charikar. This section also passes some gardens (fruit and other trees and grapevines). There is a shrine called Astalef and second place cultural places called Gul Ghundai. According to the field survey estimates, both places lay outside of the1.5 km corridor of the line, so they are identified as non-affected areas. In addition,changes in the final route also do not change this situation.

3. Second Line Section:from Salang south to Salang north: The second line section passes through high sloppy areas, estuaries, hills, mountains and rocks. Some trees, a small number of houses and residential structures potentially affected can easily be circumvented. Minor changes in the tower location will safe most of these potentially affected assets. This section crosses mainly the road, river and an existing 220 kV line and trees while passing from one hill to another.

4. Third Line Section: from Salang north to DashteAlwan: The third section is an intensely used and irrigated agricultural area with some settlements and gardens, the most economically effective agricultural assets. Here, the effects on settlements can be mitigated by changes in the tower locations, but the effects on agriculture can be mitigated through proper implementation of the mitigation measures, which has been given in updated EMP, however, the effects on agriculture cannot be easily mitigated. For this reason, more compensation should be paid to the AP’s who bears agricultural losses.Additional financed components (line bay and two reactors) are located in this section.

5.1 Geography

5 Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in south-central Asia. The country is 249,935 square miles in area (647,500 square kilometers). Afghanistan is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast. The country is mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest. The highest point is Mount Nowshak, at 24,557 feet (7,485 meters) above sea level. Afghanistan forms a crossroads between the East and West and has been an ancient focal point of migration and trade.

6 The climate varies considerably by region and tends to change rapidly. Large parts of the country are dry, and fresh water supplies are limited. The Sistan Basin is one of the driest regions in the world. Winters are severe in the central highlands, the glacierized northeast (around Nuristan), and the Wakhan Corridor, where the average January temperature is below 5°F (-15°C). Summers are especially hot in the low-lying areas of Sistan Basin in the southwest, the Jalalabad basin in the east, and the Turkistan plains along the Amu River in the north, where temperatures average over 95°F (35°C) in July (Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation, 2018).[footnoteRef:3] [3: https://raziasrayofhope.org/geography-of-afghanistan.html]

7 The planned transmission line traverses three provinces of Afghanistan:

Baghlan Province

8 Baghlan Province is widely known as the second-grade province, Baghlan is located to the northeast of the country and considered one of the industrial provinces of Afghanistan. This province covers an area of 18,225 km2 with a total population of 890,000 individuals (Pajhwok Afghan News, 2014)[footnoteRef:4]. [4: http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-baghlan]

9 Geographically, Baghlan is situated 29 degrees, 31 minutes of northern latitude and 58 degrees, 48 minutes of northern longitudes. The province is located 230-kilometers from Kabul at Kabul Mazar-e-Sharif highway. The strategic importance of Baghlan enhances as it connects with seven Northern provinces and the capital of the country. Panjsher, Takhar and Kundoz provinces are located to the northeast of Baghlan, Samangan and Bamyan to its west while Parwan is situated to its south. The Salang separates both Parwan and Baghlan provinces and the northern Salang is located in Baghlan province while the Southern Salang is situated in Parwan province (Pajhwok Afghan News, 2014)[footnoteRef:5] [5: http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-baghlan]

Parwan Province

10 Parwan Province is situated in the central part of Afghanistan, bordering with Baghlan in the north, with Kabul in the South, with Kapisa and Panjshir in the East and with Bamyan in the west. This province covers an area of 5,715 km2with a total population of 600,000 individuals and Charikar is its capital (Pajhwok Afghan News, 2014)[footnoteRef:6]. [6: http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-Parwan]

Kabul Province

11 Kabul Provinceis situated in the northern part of Afghanistan, bordering with Parwan in the north, with Nangarhar and Kapisa in the east, with Logar and Maidan Wardak in the south and with Bamyan in the west. The province covers an area of 4,585 km2 where more than half (56.3%) contains mountainous area.

12 Situated in central zone of the country, Kabul province is the capital of Afghanistan and its provincial capital is Kabul city. Kabul is situated at an elevation of about 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city has 1,053 villages which are divided into 22 municipality and 14 administrative units such as Bagrami, Char Asiab, Dehsabz, Farza, Istalif , Kalakan , Mir Bacha Kot , Mussahi, Paghman, Qarabagh, Shakardara, Guldara, Sorubi and Khak-i-Jabar (Pajhwok Afghan News, 2014).[footnoteRef:7] [7: http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/kabul-province-background-profile]

13 The Investigation area is located in most of the non-mountainous and some mountainous zones (i.e. Salang) of the three provinces. Table 5-1 shows some altitudes of major terrain points.

Table 5-1: Major Terrain Points

Location

Terrain altitude above sea level

Remarks

DashteAlwan

678 m

Lowest elevation

Salang Pass

3,991 m

The Highest OHL location

Chemtala SS

1,894 m

Substation location

Arghundy

2,188 m

Substation location

14 There are no high hills or mountains in the line corridor. The main features of the Investigation area are:

· Very cold places in Salang High Mountains

· Roads in different locations;

· Settlements in Arghundy

· Settlements in Paghman

· Settlement in the ShekerdaraGhorband river

· Salang south or Salang river

· Salang north or Khinjan river

· Salang Pass

· Salang Tunnel and the adjacent galleries

· Settlements in Khinjan called Mosoyee

· Gojar settlements in DashtKelagai,

· Doshi settlements

· Doshi River

· Dashte Alwan substation

5.2 Topography

15 Although the average altitude of Afghanistan is about 1,200 m (4,000 ft), the Hindu Kush mountain range rises to more than 6,100 m (20,000 ft) in the northern corner of the Wakhan panhandle in the northeast and continues in a southwesterly direction for about 970 km (600 mi), dividing the northern provinces from the rest of the country. Central Afghanistan, a plateau with an average elevation of 1,800 m (6,000 ft), contains many small fertile valleys and provides excellent grazing for sheep, goats, and camels. To the north of the Hindu Kush and the central mountain range, the altitude drops to about 460 m (1,500 ft), permitting the growth of cotton, fruits, grains, ground nuts, and other crops.

16 The intermountain basins have nearly flat bottoms dissected by a network of rivers and irrigation canals. The upper and middle slopes ranges are steep while the lower slopes are generally flat. The north faces of some mountains (over 3,500 m) have small glaciers and permanent snowcaps. There are few lakes also. North and east of Gardez, the river system forms part of the lndus catchment area with all drainage north of Gardez flowing into the Kabul River south and west of the Gardez lake of Sistan on the southwestern border with Iran.

17 Southwestern Afghanistan is a desert, hot in summer and cold in winter. The four major river systems are the Amu Darya (Oxus) in the north, flowing into the Aral Sea; the Harirud and Morghab in the west; the Helmand in the southwest; and the Kabul in the east, flowing into the Indus. [footnoteRef:8] [8: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/asia-and-oceania/afghanistan-topography.html#ixzz56IVAqs9D retrieved on 06-02-2018]

5.3 Geology and Seismicity

Charikar Kabul–Poli-Alam–Gardez

18 The geology of the central-eastern region is complex. A broad northeast trending belt of Tertiary siltstones, sandstones, conglomerates, limestone and volcanic rocks dominates the area between Khost and Gardez. These overly a complex of Mesozoic and Paleozoic sandstones, lime stones and schist stones which crop out mainly between Ghazni and Kabul and between Kabul and Jalalabad. The intermountain basins are blanketed with late Tertiary and quaternary conglomerates, sandstones, loess and evaporate deposits. Throughout the area pockets of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks of different age have been identified. The area is seismically active with Earthquakes as strong as 7 and 8 on the Richter scale having been recorded.

5.4 Geology and Soil

5.4.1 Geology

19 Afghanistan has some of the most complex and varied geology in the world (Figure 5-1). The oldest rocks are Archean succeeded by rocks from the Proterozoic and every Phanerozoic system up to the present day. The country also has a long and complicated tectonic history, partly related to its position at the western end of the Himalaya. This diverse geological foundation has resulted in a significant mineral heritage with over 1400 mineral occurrences recorded to date.

20 Historical mining concentrated mostly on precious stone production, with some of the oldest known mines in the world from Egyptian Pharaohs i.e. Lapis Lazuli. More recent exploration in the 1960s and 70s resulted in the discovery of significant resources of metallic minerals, including copper, iron and gold, and non-metallic minerals, including halite, talc and mica. The bedrock geology of Afghanistan can be thought of as a jigsaw of crustal blocks separated by fault zones, each with a different geological history and mineral prospectively. This jigsaw has been put together by a series of tectonic events dating from the Jurassic (Afghanistan Geological Survey, 2017).[footnoteRef:9] [9: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/afghanminerals/geology.html]

Figure 5-1: Geological and Mineral Resources Map of Afghanistan (with Investigation area)

Source: United States Geological Survey (1997)

21 The Tadjik block of northern Afghanistan formed the southern margin of the Eurasian continental plate during Permo-Triassic times. The Palaeozoic basement was intruded by Triassic granitoids as a result of subduction related to the first stages of the closure of the Tethys Ocean during the Cimmeride Orogeny. Subsequent to this, a Jurassic clastic sequence was deposited, which changes upwards to Cretaceous carbonate platform sedimentation. This area is now the prime target for hydrocarbon exploration, although the exposed granitoids in the northeast of the block are prospective particularly for precious (and base) metal mineralization. Quaternary sediments, quaternary sands and dunes mark the geological situation of the Investigation area.

5.4.2 Soil[footnoteRef:10] [10: (http://faculty.college-prep.org)]

22 Soil conditions vary from place to place in Afghanistan, and they are largely dependent on the environmental conditions of the location. The site is marked by quaternary sediments and quaternary sands and dunes. There are important oil and natural gas reserves as well as sulphur, sand and gravel deposits. It is an earthquake hazardous area with assumed 6.0 local magnitude (ML) on Richter scale, meaning posing medium risk. The site is composed of several soil types, however sandy soils predominate.The central highlands are generally very dry and cold, so the soil conditions are desert-steppe to meadow-steppe. The southern plateau, due to the dry and barren land, has generally infertile land. The only fertile land in this region lies along the southwest rivers. The northern plains contain the Amu River along the edge of its foothills. This water source contributes to a much more fertile soil in this area.

23 Soil erosion is a huge factor of Afghanistan ecology, and its presence is largely the result of its geography and climate. Heavy tectonic activities lead to large slopes, folds, and valleys in Afghanistan's landscape. Furthermore, the soil most common to Afghanistan is very porous and fragile. This makes it very vulnerable to erosion during periods of heavy rainfall. On top of this, over-cultivation of plants and trees contributes to Afghanistan's barren landscape, so there is very little to prevent erosion from taking place. A combination of a hilly geography, weak soil, and a barren landscape results in about 80 percent of Afghanistan's land being subject to soil erosion. Such a high amount of soil erosion contributes to the inability to farmland or sustain life.

24 Climate also contributes to desertification, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the west, north, and center of the country. Although human impact is partly to blame for the increase in the amount of dry desert, Afghanistan has also suffered a drought in recent years. A dryer climate has resulted in sandier, more fragile soil in many regions. This has resulted in the loss of vegetation, farmland, and consequently livable conditions.

25 The soil in the mountains is rubble and loam rubble and sandy loam 0.5-5 thick and underline by rock. The soil in the intermountain basins is loam and sandy loam and in the river valleys, sand and gravel (Figure 5-2).

Figure 5-2: Soil Regions of Afghanistan (Map with Investigation area)

Soils with Mesic STR (mean annual soil temp. 8-15°C)

Soils with Aridic SMR and Thermic STR (mean annual soil temp. 15-22°C)

26 Areas with gentle slopes bear their primary soils, which are course textured admixed without stones. Valleys l contains alluvial soils, mixed with gravels and pebbles deposited by storm water channels and drains. These soils are of generally coarse nature. They are moderately to strongly calcareous and well drained. The soils occupying plains to gentle slopes are from pediment materialswith medium to textured structure (very fine sand and very fine sandy loam). Soils of these plain areas having access to water are fertile and suited for agriculture. Other plain areas are rain fed. The semi-desert areas are characterized by moving sands.

5.4.3 Mineral Resources

27 Afghanistan’s mineral sector has been identified as a significant potential source of growth for the country’s economy. Coal, gemstones, and quarry materials are often produced outside the control of the central government and the government has not received royalties for the exploitation of the mineral resources